I just finished my 3rd month on Enbrel and I have an RA appt. next week with my rheumy. I talked to his nurse on the phone today and she said he might try me on Humira instead of Enbrel since the Enbrel isn't working. Does anyone know what the difference is?

I've had ra for 2 and 1/2 years and I've taken humira and enbrel. The enbrel worked better for me. I also take prednisone, methotrexate, naprosyn and folic acid. If the methotrexate makes you sick they say if you get an injection you don't notice the nausea.

Embrel does take while to get into your system. Tramadol should be available in Canada, if I can get in in Nigeria it should be anywhere. Humiria is still in the same kinda family as Embrel so it is risky for me to take it. My Doc says no way as long as I am in Nigeria. I do ok on Prednisone, Mobic, Ultram, mega vitamins, and hot baths. I think I could be better if I could loose some weight. I have been on most of the other drugs at some time in my life, I've had RA since I was 11 yrs. I'm kinda tired of trying new stuff and dealing with the side effects. Different meds work for different people. I'm just glad the Doc's thought's that I'd be in a wheel chair by the time I was in my 20-30's was wrong. I thank God every day. Keep you chin up and keep on perservering. Take the narcotics when you have to.

Hi Ultram (tramadol) is a pill form. Its great for pain. I would believe it to be availible in Canada but not sure I hope so. Its not a narcotic medication like morphine. It helps alot with pain though for me and I have been on it for 4 yrs now. It comes in doages of 50mg tablets I take two every six hours. This way I dont have to take to much Prednisone. Because I gain wieght with it. I use to take 30mg of prednisone and i gained 100 pounds in a years time when i was first sick in 2000. This disaese makes me angry but as time has gone on I have tried to find some peace within myself to overcome it but some days its hard to. but the HUMIRIA Is a great injection medication. I heard its better than ENBREL. I believe my R.A. doctor In WI told me it was stronger and more benifical but it costs 1,400 dollars per injection. Thank goodness I am on Federal medicad program that pays for all my medications. I cant work because of this disease. I have both R.A. and osteo so it sucks. IF one is quiet the other is active. Hope this helps! Stacy

I just started Enbrel about 2 months ago and so far, it's not the miracle drug that I was led to believe it was. But, most people that I've talked to about it, take it with Methotrexate and I don't take Methotrexate because I feel nauseous for three days afterwards. So, I don't know if that's why Enbrel isn't working as well for me or if I just have to give it some time to start working the way other RA drugs seem to.

That said, I walked for 20 minutes this morning because my knees seemed a bit better but within 5 minutes of starting, my left knee started to hurt. I never know if I should keep going or quit but this time, I kept going because it's been so long since I've done ANY exercise. I also did some water exercises in my dad's pool last week and sometimes, my knee hurt and sometimes, it didn't.

I've never heard of Ultram. Can you please give me more info? Is it available in Canada (I live in Ontario)? Is it a pill or injectable?

Well all the meds are helpful at some times. I was on embril injections for 2 years and it was great till I had pneumonia 3 times in 3 months. I have been on most of the other meds but cannot take them for different reasons. Well, Ultram is a miricle drug. Its nice to talk to someone who understands the trials of different meds and the wonderfull effects on our bodies. Now I'm on Ultram, Mobic, Prednisone 5mg lots of vitamins. We need to encourage each other to perserver. The main thing is to keep a good attitude. AS my old Doctor told me the first time I was pregnant. "Some days you just wake up feeling like Crap. You can either let it spoil your day or get over it." At the time I thought it was pretty rude but as I've aged I appreciate those words more. God Bless

HI I also have R.A. and osteo. I found that the medication mix of HUMRIA AND METHOTEXTRATE work really good for me. But since I have moved to Washington from Colorado I have been having a hard time finding a R.A. doctor to see me. So right now I am in alot of pain in my joints and my knees too its hard to walk and move around. Also to help with pain you might want to try Ultram a pain medication non narcotic kind. Very helpful. I also take 4 mg of prednisone too. so the combo of all the medication I feel great and can move easy and exercise pretty good. but right now I am not feeling well at all. But hopefully soon as I get back on the medications I will be ok again to move around and lose wieght!

I am also challenged by RA since I was a child. I have gained weight over the years and now I'm determined to do something about it. I think you just have to do what you can each day. Some days thats not much for me. Those days I take 2 hot baths with epson salt and soak. I usually can walk (not really fast) and I try to do streches. I have also bought a pilates video set. I'm not very good yet but persistence will eventually pay off. I have found the menu plans a great help. I know when the pain is bad I like to eat. I just have to do something else. I don't know if these things will help you but I know that prayer helps me make it through each day. God Bless

Hi. I'm new here and I have rheumatoid arthritis, which often means I can't exercise because of pain. When my knees ache, I even can't do water aerobics. Because I have problems with exercise, I find it hard to lose weight but I feel if I could lose the weight, my arthritis would get better. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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